and routine tasks woven into the fabric of the story, it describes the consuming pressure, emotional turmoil and unpredictable nature of the job.

Utilising the rare perspective of a northern, queer, working-class female firefighter, Lifting the Fire Hydrant Lid examines the more intricate difficulties experienced by minority groups and gives a voice to a profession that is seldom heard and rarely seen. Kate lives in the North East of England and has been a firefighter for over 16 years. Born in County Durham, the second of four children and sandwiched between two brothers, Kate soon became accustomed to holding her own. She reached a high level in numerous sports and won three consecutive national chess championships. After graduating from the University of Sunderland with a Sports Science degree, a chance visit to an open day at the Fire Service Training Centre changed her life forever. Kate has climbed Mount Kilimanjaro; coached soccer in USA; managed a successful women’s football team; completed the first ‘Tough Mudder’ event in Scotland; and more recently adopted 2 boys as a single parent. Following the arrival of her second son, Kate changed direction, she now works as a personal trainer and life coach, encouraging others to follow their dreams.